Telcos plan overhaul of infrastructure safety measures

Nigerian telecommunications companies are planning a comprehensive overhaul of their infrastructure safety measures in response to a surge in vandalism, power failures, and security threats affecting network quality, industry executives said.

The move comes as operators seek to safeguard their investments and ensure service reliability amid increasing attacks on telecom sites, particularly in remote and high-risk areas.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited group and one of the world’s largest independent owners and operators of shared communications infrastructure, convened a high-level meeting last week at its corporate headquarters in Lagos.

The meeting brought together key industry stakeholders, including regulators and law enforcement agencies, to develop a multi-stakeholder action plan aimed at protecting critical national information infrastructure assets in Lagos State.

The persistent issue of fibre cuts in Lagos has led to an estimated N5 bn loss for telecom operators in 2024 alone, according to industry data.

“The protection of critical national information infrastructure has been a major concern for all industry stakeholders,” said Senior Vice President & Chief Corporate Services Officer of IHS Nigeria, Dapo Otunla.

He added, “We are experiencing daily losses of assets, which significantly impact the quality of service delivered to subscribers. Addressing these issues is paramount to sustaining Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and meeting regulatory expectations.”

MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telecom operator, spent N11.1bn on repairing and relocating 2,502 km of fibre-optic cables over two years, according to the latest GSMA Nigeria Digital Economy report.

At the meeting, stakeholders emphasised the need for stronger deterrence and prevention measures, mentioning the importance of public awareness campaigns to educate local communities on the need to protect telecom infrastructure.

The gathering, organised under the umbrella of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, was attended by senior representatives from the Nigerian Communications Commission, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, mobile network operators, InfraCos, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the agency responsible for safeguarding critical national infrastructure.

In a separate forum in Lagos last week, telecom executives warned that without a comprehensive solution, operators would continue to face operational inefficiencies and financial strain, while subscribers would endure persistent network disruptions.

“Over 2,500 fibre cuts were recorded in the state last year, causing widespread service disruptions and financial losses,” said Jude Ighomena, Senior Manager at Broadbased Communications.

In a bid to address these challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year signed a presidential order designating all telecom infrastructure as critical national information assets.

The order empowers the NCC to combat vandalism and illegal tampering, ensuring telecom infrastructure is protected against both human and environmental threats.